| Putting in time for some golf putting practice is the | | | | Developing a smooth, reliable putting stroke is just |
| best way to lower your scores. Not only will it help | | | | the first step in becoming a consistent putter. To |
| you to develop a better putting stroke, but it will also | | | | progress from good putter to great putter you must |
| improve your judgment of speed and distance and, in | | | | master the speed, and what's called the "break," of |
| doing so, increase your confidence when you are on | | | | your putt. This means judging the contours of the |
| the putting green. | | | | green and knowing how hard you'll need to hit the |
| The farther you are from the hole the less likely you | | | | ball. |
| are to hole a putt, so the secret is to make sure | | | | Reading greens begins with understanding how your |
| that if you miss you leave the ball close enough to | | | | ball reacts when rolling up, down, or across a slope. If |
| the hole to make the next putt a formality. Here are | | | | it's an uphill putt you'll need to hit your ball harder |
| a couple of drills designed to help you hole out. | | | | than on a level green. If it's downhill, don't strike the |
| Practicing Your Long putts | | | | ball so hard. When putting across a slope, aim wide of |
| When you're practicing those longer putts, try this | | | | the target and try to determine how much the ball |
| exercise: Take a handful of tees and place them in a | | | | will curve on its way to the hole. |
| semicircle around the back of the hole - a radius of | | | | Before you start your round, spend a little time on |
| 18 inches (0.4 m) to 2 feet (0.6 m) should be enough. | | | | the practice green. This will help you gauge the speed |
| Now take five balls and try to ensure that each of | | | | of the greens on the course. Don't be tentative |
| the putts stays within the semicircle. If you fail, then | | | | when taking short putts. It's often easier to hole |
| repeat the exercise until you succeed. As you | | | | them when you hit them firmly and take any break |
| improve, lengthen the distance of the putts. | | | | out of the putt. |
| Practicing Your Short putts | | | | Before you take your shot, examine the break from |
| Even professional players sometimes miss the short | | | | a variety of angles and make a mental note of how |
| putts. If you want to master the art of holing those | | | | any of your playing partner's putts react on the way |
| tricky little shots, try this simple round-the-clock | | | | to green. |
| exercise. Place 12 balls in a circle around the hole to | | | | When you've picked your line and gauged the speed, |
| create a "clock face," and then try to hole each of | | | | be positive and trust your putting stroke. The worst |
| them in succession. If you miss one ball, start again | | | | mistake in putting is leaving the putt short, so hit it |
| from the beginning. As you improve with practice, | | | | hard enough to ensure that it stops just before the |
| increase the distance between the balls, so widening | | | | hole. With sufficient practice, you should be able to |
| the circle. | | | | master putting and lower your score easily. |
| Learning to Read Greens When Putting | | | | |